Weekend of a Champion

Weekend of a Champion
Company type	Documentary film
Industry	Film
Founded	1972
Founder	Roman Polanski, Frank Simon
Products	Documentary film about Formula One racing

Weekend of a Champion, also known under the title Afternoon of a Champion, is a 1972 British documentary film that documents British Formula One driver Jackie Stewart's involvement in the 1971 Monaco Grand Prix. The film, produced by Stewart's acquaintance Roman Polanski, captures his experiences throughout the race weekend.

The documentary debuted at the 1972 Berlin Film Festival and had a brief theatrical run across Europe before disappearing from public view for four decades. When the original film negative was nearly discarded, Polanski undertook a restoration and remix, including an additional 15-minute epilogue where he and Stewart discuss their friendship, improvements in racing safety, and life in Monaco.

Production

Despite lacking prior experience in documentary filmmaking, Polanski brought on Frank Simon as director. Both accompanied Stewart to Monaco during the Grand Prix event.

Years later, London's Technicolor laboratory reached out to Polanski regarding the potential disposal of old film negatives. Partnering with producer Brett Ratner, they opted to restore and re-release the documentary.

Stewart commended his collaboration with Polanski, highlighting the film’s candid cinéma vérité style that genuinely conveyed the essence of the racing world.

Cast

Production

Funding for the project was secured through EMI Films.

Release

The restored version was presented out of competition as an Official Selection at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival. It saw a limited theatrical release in the United States on 22 November 2013.

Home media

A Region 2 DVD edition was made available by Universal Pictures UK on 4 November 2013.

Accolades

Award	Category	Result
22nd Berlin International Film Festival	Documentary	Special Recognition

Critical reception

Weekend of a Champion garnered generally positive feedback. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 71% "fresh" rating based on 14 critiques, while on Metacritic it has a score of 63/100 from 9 reviews, indicating "generally favorable" opinions.

Calum Marsh from The Village Voice praised the film as an enjoyable experience that not only portrays Formula One racing but also delves into the lavish lifestyle surrounding it, emphasizing Stewart and Polanski’s portrayal of Monaco’s exclusive social scene.

Mike D'Angelo of The A.V. Club assigned it a B− grade, describing it as an effective introduction to motor racing despite some shortcomings in capturing Monaco’s street circuit dynamics. He noted that the updated edition includes a 20-minute epilogue featuring reflections by Polanski and Stewart on four decades of change in Monaco and Formula One.

Dade Hayes from Forbes lauded the documentary for its sensory appeal to enthusiasts of both 1970s cinema and Formula One, highlighting its depiction of Monaco’s celebrity environment alongside elite motorsport.

Jeannette Catsoulis of The New York Times awarded it 2.5 out of 5 stars, suggesting that the documentary mainly resonates with fans of motor racing and film aficionados, serving as a modest yet insightful supplement to the subjects’ careers.

External links

– original motion picture
– subsequent release
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